La Mesa Municipal Code Ch. 8.09 Licenses and Tags

All dogs over the age of four months, other than dogs in a licensed kennel, shall be licensed in accordance with this division.

(Ord. 1924 § 3 (part); December 14, 1972)

Every person owning or harboring a dog, except tourists or visitors who stay less than one month, shall pay to the license collector or other proper official a license fee established by city council resolution for each dog they own, possess, keep, or harbor after it is four months old. The annual license fee for spayed or neutered dogs shall be established by city council resolution, if a certificate is presented from a licensed veterinarian that the dog has been spayed or neutered. All dog owners must possess such license at the time the dog is five months old or one month after obtaining or bringing into the city any dog over four months of age. If said license is not purchased within the prescribed licensing period a late fee established by city council resolution shall be collected at the time of purchase.

(Ord. 2164; September 7, 1978: Ord. 2438 § 1; November 25, 1986: Ord. 2459 § 12; August 11, 1987)

No license fee shall be charged for trained "seeing eye," "hearing," or "service dogs" whose owners are legally blind, deaf or disabled. No license fee shall be charged for a law enforcement dog whose owner is employed by a law enforcement agency.

(Ord. 2562 § 3; July 24, 1990)

All dog licenses required by this division shall expire one, two, or three years from the date of issuance, on the last day of the month in which the license was purchased. All dog owners purchasing licenses for dogs under the age of twelve months old shall purchase a one-year license only. As the vaccination for dogs under the age of twelve months is good for only one year, the owner must revaccinate the dog after one year, and then must purchase either a one, two, or three-year license.

(Ord. 1924 § 3 (part); December 14, 1972: Ord. 2438 § 3; November 25, 1986)

All licenses required by this division shall be renewed by the license expiration date. There shall be added to such license fee a penalty established by city council resolution for being delinquent or late. The penalty shall be collected at the time of the renewal of said license.

(Ord. 1924 § 3 (part); December 14, 1972: Ord. 2438 § 4; November 25, 1986: Ord. 2459 § 13; August 11, 1987)

Upon presentation, by the dog owner, of a properly completed license application form, including proof that the rabies vaccination will be valid throughout the license period, and the proper license fee, and if applicable, a delinquent fee, the department shall issue a validated dog license and license tag. The dog owner shall retain the dog license for inspection by any person charged with the enforcement of this chapter.

(Ord. 1924 § 3 (part); December 14, 1972: Ord. 2438 § 5; November 25, 1986)

No license or license tag issued to one dog under this division shall be transferred to another dog.

(Ord. 1924 § 3 (part); December 14, 1972)

The dog owner shall securely affix the current license tag to the collar or harness of the dog for which the license tag was issued and shall insure that the dog wears such license tag at all times except when the dog is being exhibited at a dog show.

(Ord. 1924 § 3 (part); December 14, 1972: Ord. 2438 § 7; November 25, 1986)

Notwithstanding the other provisions in this division, a dog license tag issued by the County of San Diego shall be considered a valid license until its expiration.

(Ord. 1924 § 3 (part); December 14, 1972)

Duplicate tags, in case of loss, may be issued by the license collector or other proper official. Such tags shall be issued at the expense of the applicant. The cost of a duplicate tag shall be established by city council resolution.

(Ord. 1924 § 3 (part); December 14, 1972: Ord. 2459 § 14; August 11, 1987)

No tag or check shall be used on the collar of any dog other than those tags or checks provided for in this division.

(Ord. 1924 § 3 (part); December 14, 1972)

No person shall remove the collar or tag from any dog without the consent of the owner or the party to whom the license required under this division is issued. A license tag issued for one dog shall not be transferred or attached to any other dog.

(Ord. 1924 § 3 (part); December 14, 1972: Ord. 2438 § 8; November 25, 1986)

Every person desiring to relinquish an animal to the city of La Mesa shall pay a fee established by city council resolution per cat and per dog. At the time of said relinquishment, the person shall sign a statement, under penalty of perjury, that said person is the owner of the animal to be relinquished and waive any and all liability on the part of the city by such relinquishment.

(Ord. 2008 § 1; October 29, 1974, as amended by Ord. 2385 § 1; June 25, 1985: Ord. 2459 § 15; August 11, 1987)

Whenever the ownership of a licensed dog changes, the new owner shall apply for and obtain a transfer license and pay a fee established by city council resolution.

(Ord. 2438 § 9; November 25, 1986: Ord. 2459 § 15; August 11, 1987)

The address of the owner is to be the address where the dog is kept, unless otherwise registered with the licensing department. Any change of address must be reported to the licensing department within one month following such change.

(Ord. 2438 § 10; November 25, 1986)